Music coverage by and for people who really like music...

February 25, 2013

The L.A. Show Low Down (Or: "I Got A Message, I Got A Sign Through The Wires Swinging In Time, It's So Simple; It's Like The Sun...")

by Brad Roberts

Matt Pond is one of the artists I hold responsible for dragging my life back towards music nearly eight years ago. It was the video for the song "Closest" which showed a band in their individual preparations for a session in the studio that piqued my interest in this band. Each going throught the mundane activities we all share like making some coffee or brushing your teeth or walking the dog, before heading out to catch a bus, or drive, or walk to whatever our destination is. The band members all arrive at the same time, go inside, strap on their instruments, which they strum, pluck, bow or strike all in unison, and the video ends. The song's resemblance to Fleetwood Mac was not lost on me.

The revelation was the realization that, in spite of their exhalted status as musicians, we shared the same concerns and hopes and dreams, even across generations, as we meet our basic rituals of survival. This was before I was able to number even one musician among the people I know and I was thunderstruck with the desire to meet these people. That was a life-altering moment and now, over seven years later, I consider most of my best friends to be musicians. "Life is change", and as I began to go out and see the band Matt Pond PA there were constant line up changes in the band over the years.

But now Matt Pond has reinvented himself as a new band (minus the PA) and released a new album, The Lives Inside The Lines In Your Hand, which may be the best album of his career. So sure-footed and self-possessed, it sounds like the work of someone who has reached a place of comfort where the music and lyrics are a reflection of a life in balance. The album is comfortingly familiar yet stakes out new ground for this accomplished artist. He appears on a bill with Jukebox the Ghoston Thursday at Echoplex and I'll be there.

Once again the Monday residencies are finishing up and I've managed to miss some of the bands I really should see. I would split my time between The Echo and The Satellite tonight if I could. After The Mowgli's (at left) smashing performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last Thursday night I would love to catch them before it's too late to see them in a neighborhood bar. Alas, Kan Wakan also come highly recommended, and as they have Seasons on their bill tonight at The Echo, this may get the edge.

As I explained above, I will be at the Jukebox the Ghost (at right) show to see Matt Pond debut his new album. Interest in the show has forced a move from The Echo to the downstairs Echoplex. I'm really looking forward to this show.

- The Used, We Came As Romans, Crown The Empire, Mindflow @ The Wiltern

- Surfer Blood, Grand Rapids @ The Echo

DECISION:

Haunted Summer (photo by Amanda Glover at right) have already been a subject of an interview at RFSL, so tonight we are presenting the first night of their first residency Friday at Casey's Irish Bar downtown with Mr. Avi himself, Avi Zahner Isenberg in a solo performance that is always a special treat. In fact Haunted Summer have lined up some smashing acts for the month's run.